Recognizing Personal Revelation
1. Testify – Once received, [a personal testimony] becomes
a pole star to guide in all the activities of life.
Jerry Perkins – President Kimball reminded us that "the
burning bushes, the smoking mountains... the Cumorahs
...were realities; but they were the exceptions." He taught
us that the great volume of revelation comes in less
spectacular ways. Finally, this prophet helped explain why
many of us miss the revelations of God: "Always expecting
the spectacular, many will miss entirely the constant flow of
revealed communication."
2. Prophecy – While my wife was in the temple, the Spirit
whispered to her that she would have another child.
That prophetic revelation was fulfilled about a year and
a half later with the birth of our sixth child, for whom we
had waited 13 years.
Elder Graham Doxey: "On religious matters, too many of us
are saying, 'What did you say? Speak up; I can't hear you.'
And when he doesn't shout back, or cause the bush to burn,
or write us a message in stone with his finger, we are
inclined to think he doesn't listen, doesn't care about us.
Some even conclude there is no God…
Jay Jensen offered a similar explanation of why so many of
us are unaware of how the Spirit of the Lord works. He felt
that perhaps it was because there were so many references
to "spectacular" revelation in Church talks, magazines,
lesson manuals, testimony meetings. He said, "Frequent
exposure to such experiences may lead some to believe that
if they haven't experienced some similar kind of outpouring
or manifestation, they haven't had a spiritual experience."
The passages of the Doctrine and Covenants that seem to be
quoted most often by the Brethren as they seek to explain
revelation are "enlighten thy mind" (6:15); "peace to your
mind" (6:23); "I will tell you in your mind and in your heart"
(8:2); "study it out in your mind" and "cause that your bosom
shall burn" (9:8); and "enlighten your mind" and "fill your soul
with joy" (11:13).
Though visions and audible voices are ways the Lord reveals
his truth, more commonly he whispers to the mind and the
heart. One key to recognizing the Spirit is to realize that it
influences the mind and the feelings at the same time. The
Spirit gives us ideas in our minds that we feel good about in
our hearts, or feelings in our hearts that are reasonable to
our minds. There is an interaction of reason and emotion
that the scriptures underscore. Elder Boyd K. Packer
emphasized feelings: "I have come to know that inspiration
comes more as a feeling than as a sound." (From his chapter in The
Heavens Are Open: The 1992 Sperry Symposium on the Doctrine and Covenants and
Church History, p. 261.)
Dallin H. Oaks – I can identify eight different purposes
served by communication from God. My purpose in
suggesting this classification and in giving these examples is
to persuade each of you to search your own experience and
to conclude that you have already received revelations and
that you can receive more revelations because
communication from God to men and women is a reality.
3. Comfort – The widow of a good friend told me that she
had felt the presence of her departed husband, giving
her assurance of his love and concern for her. Others
have been comforted in adjusting to the loss of a job or a
business advantage or even a marriage. A revelation of
comfort can also come in connection with a blessing of
the priesthood, either from the words spoken or simply
from the feeling communicated in connection with the
blessing. Example: Enos’ sins forgiven (Enos 1:5-6; D&C 61:2)
and Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail (D&C 121:7-8).
4. Uplift – Lifted up from a depression, from a sense of
foreboding or inadequacy, or just from a plateau of
spiritual mediocrity. Because it raises our spirits and
helps us resist evil and seek good, I believe that the
feeling of uplift that is communicated by reading the
scriptures or by enjoying wholesome music, art, or
literature is a distinct purpose of revelation.
5. Inform – A child loses a treasured possession, prays for
help, and is inspired to find it; an adult has a problem at
work, at home, or in genealogical research, prays, and is
led to the information necessary to resolve it; a church
leader prays to know who the Lord would have him call
to fill a position, and the Spirit whispers a name.
6. Restrain – “the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance” (2 Nephi
32:7).
7. Confirm – A common way to seek revelation is to
propose a particular course of action and then to pray
for inspiration to confirm it.
8. Impel – The Spirit impels a person to action.
RESTRAIN – … If we are keeping the commandments of God
and living in tune with his Spirit, a restraining force will steer
us away from things we should not do.
… I was called as a counselor in a stake presidency in
Chicago. In one of our first stake presidency meetings our
stake president made a proposal that our new stake center
be built in a particular location. I immediately saw four or
five good reasons why that was the wrong location. When
asked for my counsel, I opposed the proposal, giving each of
those reasons. The stake president wisely proposed that
each of us consider the matter prayerfully for a week and
discuss it further in our next meeting. Almost perfunctorily I
prayed about the subject and immediately received a strong
impression that I was wrong, that I was standing in the way
of the Lord’s will, and that I should remove myself from
opposition to it. … My reasons to the contrary turned out to
be short-sighted, and I was soon grateful to have been
restrained from relying on them.
[As president of BYU he was to sign a certain agreement.]
But as I went to sign the document, I was filled with such
negative thoughts and forebodings that I put it to one side
and asked for the entire matter to be reviewed again. It was,
and within a few days additional facts came to light which
showed that the proposed course of action would have
caused the University serious problems in the future.
On another occasion the Spirit came to my assistance as I
was editing a casebook on a legal subject. A casebook
consists of several hundred court opinions, together with
explanatory material and text written by the editor. My
assistant and I had finished almost all of the work on the
book, including the necessary research to assure that these
court opinions had not been reversed or overruled. Just
before sending it to the publisher, I was leafing through the
manuscript and a particular court opinion caught my
attention. As I looked at it, I had a profoundly uneasy
feeling. I asked my assistant to check that opinion again to
see if everything was in order. He reported that it was. In a
subsequent check of the completed manuscript, I was again
stopped at that case, again with great feelings of uneasiness.
This time I went to the law library myself. There, in some
newly received publications, I discovered that this case had
just been reversed on appeal. If that opinion had been
published in my casebook, it would have been a serious
professional embarrassment. I was saved by the restraining
power of revelation.
IMPEL – This is not a case where a person proposes to take a
particular action and the Spirit either confirms or restrains.
This is a case where revelation comes when it is not being
sought and impels some action not proposed. This type of
revelation is obviously less common than other types, but its
rarity makes it all the more significant.
Students of Church history will recall Wilford Woodruff’s
account of an impression that came to him in the night
telling him to move his carriage and mules away from a large
tree. He did so, and his family and livestock were saved
when the tree crashed to the ground in a tornado that struck
30 minutes later. (Wilford Woodruff, History of His Life and Labors, p. 331-32)
As a young girl, my grandmother … was tending some
children who were playing in a dry riverbed near their home
in Castle Dale, Utah. Suddenly she heard a voice that called
her by name and directed her to get the children out of the
riverbed and up on the bank. It was a clear day and there
was no sign of rain. She saw no reason to heed the voice
and continued to play. The voice spoke to her again,
urgently. This time she heeded the warning. Quickly
gathering the children, she made a run for the bank. Just as
they reached it, an enormous wall of water, originating with
a cloudburst in the mountains many miles away, swept down
the canyon and roared across where the children had
played.
For nine years Professor Marvin Hill and I had worked on the
book Carthage Conspiracy, which concerns the 1845 court
trial of the murderers of Joseph Smith… Finally, the book
was completed, and within a few weeks the final manuscript
would be sent to the publisher. As I sat in my office at BYU
one Saturday afternoon, I felt impelled to go through the pile
of unexamined books and pamphlets accumulated on the
table behind my desk. At the very bottom of a pile of 50 or
60 publications, I found a [document that prompted Elder
Oaks to Wilford Wood Museum in Woods Cross, Utah, then
to the Church Historian’s office for the actual author of the
minutes.] This discovery saved us from a grievous error in
the identification of one of our major sources and also
permitted us to enrich the contents of our book significantly.
The impression I received that day in my office is a cherished
example of the way the Lord will help us in our righteous
professional pursuits when we qualify for the impressions of
his Spirit.
As a new and inexperienced president [of BYU] … I was very
dependent on the Lord. One day in October I drove up
Provo Canyon to ponder a particular problem. Although
alone and without any interruption, I found myself unable to
think of the problem at hand. Another pending issue I was
not yet ready to consider kept thrusting itself into my mind:
should we modify BYU’s academic calendar to complete the
fall semester before Christmas? After 10 or 15 minutes of
unsuccessful efforts to exclude thoughts of this subject, I
realized what was happening. The issue of the calendar did
not seem timely to me, and I was certainly not seeking any
guidance on it, but the Spirit was trying to communicate on
that subject. I immediately turned my full attention to that
question and began to record my thoughts on a piece of
paper. Within a few minutes I had recorded the details of a
three-semester calendar, with all of its powerful advantages.
Hurrying back to the campus, I reviewed this with my
colleagues and found them enthusiastic. A few days later
the Board of Trustees approved our proposed new calendar,
and we published its dates, barely in time to make them
effective in the fall of 1972. [Joseph Smith said,]
“A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the
spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure
intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes
of ideas … and thus by learning the Spirit of God and
understanding it, you may grow into the principle of
revelation” (Teachings of the Prophet Jos. Smith, p. 151). (“Revelation,” New
Era, Sep. 1982, p. 38, also Tambuli [Liahona], Dec 1983, p. 30.)
(By Zan and Misty Larsen, www.elarsen.net/lessons)
Extra Material
scriptures, fast, think pure thoughts, and develop a spirit of
reverence.
President James E. Faust – Latter-day Saints, having received
the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, are
entitled to personal inspiration in the small events of life as
well as when they are confronted with the giant Goliaths of
life. If worthy, we are entitled to receive revelations for
ourselves, parents for their children, and members of the
Church in their callings. But the right of revelation for others
does not extend beyond our own stewardship. (Ensign, Mar.
Repent. Mormon explained the fruits of repentance in
receiving revelation: “And the remission of sins bringeth
meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness
and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy
Ghost” (Moro. 8:26).
2002, p. 3)
President Boyd K. Packer – The Holy Ghost communicates
with the spirit through the mind more than through the
physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as
feelings, through impressions and promptings. It is not
always easy to describe inspiration. The scriptures teach us
that we may “feel” the words of spiritual communication
more than hear them, and see with spiritual rather than with
mortal eyes. (See 1 Nephi 17:45)
The patterns of revelation are not dramatic. The voice of
inspiration is a still voice, a small voice. There need be no
trance, no sanctimonious declaration. It is quieter and
simpler than that. (Ensign, Nov. 1989, p. 14)
Getting personal revelation
Ask through prayer. The Savior promised, “And if ye are
purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever
you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done” (D&C 50:29).
Be obedient. Obedience is essential in preparing to receive
personal revelation. The Savior gave this counsel: “When
we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that
law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:21). He promised,
“But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give
the mysteries of my kingdom” (D&C 63:23).
Search the scriptures. We must make scripture study a part
of our daily schedule. We must not just read but must
search diligently as did the sons of Mosiah (see Alma 17:2).
Nephi gave a marvelous promise to all who searched the
scriptures: “Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the
words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you
all things what ye should do” (2 Ne. 32:3).
Elder L. Lionel Kendrick – I would like to focus on some of
the sacred principles that apply to receiving personal
revelation. I will rely heavily on the scriptures and the words
of the prophets, seers, and revelators.
Fast. At times we need to fast so that we can receive
personal revelation. Alma had a great desire to know the
truthfulness of the doctrines. To know with a surety, he
prepared himself through fasting and prayer:
After we experienced our spiritual birth, Heavenly Father
counseled and corrected us, and we were instructed,
enlightened, and edified in His holy presence. Now that we
have experienced our physical birth in mortality, He desires
to continue to communicate with us and to give us counsel
and direction. He does this through personal revelation,
which involves preparation, prayer, and promptings.
Personal revelation is one of the greatest gifts and blessings
we can receive.
“Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by
the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed
many days that I might know these things of myself. And
now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God
hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and
this is the spirit of revelation which is in me” (Alma 5:46).
Receiving personal revelation is not a passive process. As we
seek such revelations, we must prepare for these sacred
experiences. President Spencer W. Kimball told us that “God
reveals himself to [people] who are prepared for such
manifestations.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1964, p. 97)
The Savior spoke of this principle of preparing to receive
personal revelation. He shed light on the things that we
must do to properly prepare: “It shall come to pass that
every soul who forsaketh his sins [repents] and cometh unto
me, and calleth on my name [prays], and obeyeth my voice,
and keepeth my commandments [obeys], shall see my face
and know that I am” (D&C 93:1).
To properly prepare to receive personal revelation, we must
repent, ask through prayer, be obedient, search the
The sons of Mosiah prepared themselves by the same
means: “They had given themselves to much prayer, and
fasting; therefore they had the … spirit of revelation” (Alma
17:3).
Think pure thoughts. If we are to have the channels of
communication open, we must clear our minds of worldly
and impure thoughts. We must follow this counsel of the
Savior: “Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all
men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy
thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong
in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood
shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven” (D&C
121:45).
Develop a spirit of reverence. To receive revelation, we must
develop a spirit of reverence. Elder Boyd K. Packer of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled, “Inspiration
comes more easily in peaceful settings.” He added,
“Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by
obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind
and spirit,” and “Reverence invites revelation.” (Ensign, Nov.
1991, p. 21)
Irreverence not only shows disrespect to Deity but also
makes it hard for the Spirit to teach us the things we need to
know. The Savior said, “And your minds in times past have
been darkened because … you have treated lightly the things
you have received” (D&C 84:54). He counseled, “Trifle not with
sacred things” (D&C 6:12). The process of receiving revelation
is sacred. It is a divine discussion with Deity and must be
reverenced if it is to work. (Ensign, Sept. 1999, p. 7)
3 Nephi 9:20 – Even as the Lamanites, because of their faith
in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire
and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
Gerald N. Lund – … I bear witness of the reality of the Spirit's
whispered guidance. In my earlier years as a teacher I used
to say that I believed the Holy Ghost spoke to us daily. I am
sure now that hourly would be a much more likely
description. I know that he comforts, testifies, enlightens,
guides, verifies, prompts, warns, directs, compels, restrains,
leads, and witnesses to me. I know that it was his voice
during all those years with my parents, and during all those
years of teaching, and during all those months of study and
learning … that over and over whispered to me, "This is true!
This is true!" (From his chapter in Expressions of Faith: Testimonies of Latterday Saint Scholars, p. 67)
John H. Groberg – Let me tell what I have discovered--and
this is somewhat repetitious. I do not say that we will not get
that burning in our bosom, for we will when it is the right
thing. In my life there have been quite a few occasions
where there was absolutely no question about it--that
burning was there. For instance, I have had the experience of
installing stake presidents when there was absolutely no
question, when I was positive that "that is the man to be the
stake president now." It has happened in other situations
also, but generally it has worked the other way--that is by
eliminating the wrong directions to reveal the right direction,
especially concerning our opportunities for progress in life in
what we often term the temporal sense. We must try to
figure it out ourselves. In the past I have tried out whether I
should go into business or into teaching or into the arts or
whatever. As I have begun to proceed along one path, having
more or less gathered what facts I could, I have found that if
that decision was wrong or was taking me down the wrong
path--not necessarily an evil one, but one that was not right
for me--without fail, the Lord has always let me know just
this emphatically: "That is wrong; do not go that way. That is
not for you!"
On the other hand, there may have been two or three ways
that I could have gone, any one of which would have been
right and would have been in the general area providing the
experience and means whereby I could fulfill the mission
that the Lord had in mind for me. Because he knows we
need the growth, he generally does not point and say, "Open
that door and go twelve yards in that direction; then turn
right and go two miles . . . " But if it is wrong, he will let us
know--we will feel it for sure. I am positive of that. So rather
than saying, "I will not move until I have this burning in my
heart," let us turn it around and say, "I will move unless I feel
it is wrong; and if it is wrong, then I will not do it." By
eliminating all of these wrong courses, very quickly you will
find yourself going in the direction that you ought to be
going, and then you can receive the assurance: "Yes, I am
going in the right direction. I am doing what my Father in
Heaven wants me to do because I am not doing the things he
does not want me to do." And you can know that for sure.
That is part of the growth process and part of accomplishing
what our Father in Heaven has in mind for us.
Let me quote from 2 Nephi, again from the thirty-second
chapter, in verses one through three, where Nephi says:
And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye
ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye
should do after ye have entered in by the way [that is,
after you have become members of the Church and been
baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost or after
you have really and seriously decided that you want to
find out what your mission and calling is]. But, behold,
why do ye ponder these things in your hearts [--why are
you not sure]?
Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had
received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of
angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of
angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore,
they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto
you, feast upon the words of Christ [that is, study the
scriptures, and listen to the modern-day prophets and
your priesthood leaders]; for behold, the words of Christ
[that is, what the Brethren tell you and what you read in
the scriptures] will tell you all things what ye should do.
[Emphasis added.]
That is rather powerful, is it not? All things? Even what I
ought to do for a living? You read it--there it is in the
thirty-second chapter of 2 Nephi. Yes, all things that are
necessary.
I assure you that by following these procedures you can
receive answers and assurances of all things necessary to
the fulfilling of your mission and calling in life. That
includes at least those two most important concerns of
whom you should marry and what profession you should
enter.
This talk is not on courtship and marriage--although I
realize that this is a popular subject at the Y, but I do
want to make just one point in this regard. Unless the
feeling of love and desire to want to be together forever
is mutual, between the boy and the girl, it is probably not
of God. I have been a mission president and have known
the positive sureness and aggressiveness of outstanding
young elders, and I would only caution you--all of you-that you cannot receive a one-sided revelation from God
that is sure and true and correct in regards to an eternal
marriage. Only as both parties feel the same way can you
have the assurance that it is from the Lord. Those who try
to force another's free will into their supposed-revelation
mold are doing a great disservice to themselves and to
their friends. Until the feeling is mutual, the good
envisioned in such a union will not come to pass. So do
not succumb to a one-way revelation; but on the other
hand, when you feel it is right--and it may not come all at
once--do not try to fight it. The Lord's greatest institution
and the means whereby he always has and always will
bring to pass his greatest blessings is the family unit you
have the opportunity of creating by making the proper
decision. Just make sure that you are right--not forced,
but not withholding either--and God will bless you now
and forever.
As to the second concern--namely, a profession or
occupation--I want to leave you my assurance that He will
bless you in this area. You can know within general areas
what He wants you to do for a living. Sometimes we feel
that God is interested in helping us choose a companion,
that he is interested in helping us on our full-time
missions, and that he is interested in helping us fulfill our
assignment as a bishop or elders quorum president or
Sunday School teacher or whatever, but that for some
reason or another he is not interested in helping us as we
struggle to decide whether to become an engineer or a
teacher or a building contractor or whatever. I do not
believe that. I believe that God is very interested in what
we do for a living. I believe that he is interested in our
relationship to him, to our fellowmen, and to this earth
that he has created for us. all things are spiritual to the
Lord. (“What Is Your Mission?”, BYU Speeches of the
Year, 1 May 1979,
http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6726&x=
63&y=9)
Another example from Elder Oak’s talk in the New Era,
September 1982:
Sometimes confirming and restraining revelations are
combined. For example, during my service at BYU I was
invited to give a speech before a national association of
attorneys. Because it would require many days to prepare,
this was the kind of speaking invitation I had routinely
declined. But as I began to dictate a letter declining this
particular invitation, I felt restrained. I paused and
reconsidered my action. I then considered how I might
accept the invitation, and as I came to consider it in that
light, I felt the confirming assurance of the Spirit and knew
that this was what I must do.
The speech that resulted, “A Private University Looks at
Government Regulation,” opened the door to a host of
important opportunities. I was invited to repeat that same
speech before several other nationally prominent groups. It
was published in Vital Speeches, in a professional journal,
and in several other periodicals and books, from which it was
used as a leading statement of the private university’s
interest in freedom from government regulation. This speech
led to BYU’s being consulted by various church groups on the
proper relationship between government and a churchrelated college. These consultations in turn contributed to
the formation of a national organization of church-related
colleges and universities that has provided a significant
coalition to oppose unlawful or unwise government
regulation in the future. I have no doubt, as I look back on
the event, that this speaking invitation I almost declined was
one of those occasions when a seemingly insignificant act
made a great deal of difference. Those are the times when it
is vital for us to receive the guidance of the Lord, and those
are the times when revelation will come to aid us if we will
hear and heed it.
Can a regular member of the Church receive revelation that
affects more than his or her area of responsibility?
Apparently yes, but revelation is only binding when it comes
from the leadership of that area, such as for the whole
church when it comes from the prophet and apostles.
Sheri Dew – As stake president, [Ezra Taft Benson] was
forward-thinking. In a practice uncommon at the time, he
published a pocket calendar for stake officers and had a
small light installed on the pulpit in the chapel of the
Washington Ward to inform speakers when their time was
spent. After thorough review of his stake, Ezra became
convinced that if all members paid tithing, there would be no
need for additional Church donations. He suggested such a
course to the First Presidency, recommending that such an
emphasis on tithing would lead to a condition of financial
preparedness for the entire church. (Ezra Taft Benson, ch. 10.)
John Taylor – I find it is difficult to keep anything from the
Saints … for the Spirit of God reveals it to them. (History of the
Church, Introduction to Volume II, v.2, p. xxvi – xxvii.)
More from Elder Oaks’ Talk
When Revelation Does Not Come
If a revelation is outside the limits of your specific
responsibility, you know it is not from the Lord and
you are not bound by it. I have heard of cases where a
young man told a young woman she should marry him
because he had received a revelation that she was to
be his eternal companion. If this is a true revelation, it
will be confirmed directly to the woman if she seeks to
know. In the meantime, she is under no obligation to
heed it. She should seek her own guidance and make
up her own mind. The man can receive revelation to
guide his own actions, but he cannot properly receive
revelation to direct hers. She is outside his jurisdiction.
What about those times when we seek revelation and
do not receive it?
We do not always receive inspiration or revelation
when we request it. Sometimes we are delayed in the
receipt of revelation, and sometimes we are left to
our own judgment. We cannot force spiritual things. It
must be so. Our life’s purpose to obtain experience
and to develop faith would be frustrated if our
Heavenly Father directed us in every act, even in every
important act. We must make decisions and
experience the consequences in order to develop selfreliance and faith.
Even in decisions we think very important, we
sometimes receive no answer to our prayers. This
does not mean that our prayers have not been heard.
It only means that we have prayed about a decision
which, for one reason or another, we should make
without guidance by revelation. Perhaps we have
asked for guidance in choosing between alternatives
that are equally acceptable or equally unacceptable. I
suggest that there is not a right and wrong to every
question. To many questions, there are only two
wrong answers or two right answers. Thus, a person
who seeks guidance on which of two different ways he
should pursue to get even with a person who has
wronged him is not likely to receive a revelation.
Neither is a person who seeks guidance on a choice he
will never have to make because some future event
will intervene, such as a third alternative that is clearly
preferable. On one occasion, my wife and I prayed
earnestly for guidance on a decision that seemed very
important. No answer came. We were left to proceed
on our own best judgment. We could not imagine why
the Lord had not aided us with a confirming or
restraining impression. But it was not long before we
learned that we did not have to make a decision on
that question because something else happened that
made a decision unnecessary. The Lord would not
guide us in a selection that made no difference.
No answer is likely to come to a person who seeks
guidance in choosing between two alternatives that
are equally acceptable to the Lord. Thus, there are
times when we can serve productively in two different
fields of labor. Either answer is right. Similarly, the
Spirit of the Lord is not likely to give us revelations on
matters that are trivial. I once heard a young woman
in testimony meeting praise the spirituality of her
husband, indicating that he submitted every question
to the Lord. She told how he accompanied her
shopping and would not even choose between
different brands of canned vegetables without making
his selection a matter of prayer. That strikes me as
improper. I believe the Lord expects us to use the
intelligence and experience He has given us to make
these kinds of choices. When a member asked the
Prophet Joseph Smith for advice on a particular
matter, the Prophet stated: “It is a great thing to
inquire at the hands of God, or to come into His
presence: and we feel fearful to approach Him on
subjects that are of little or no consequence” (History
of the Church, 1:339).
Of course, we are not always able to judge what is
trivial. If a matter appears of little or no consequence,
we should proceed on the basis of our own judgment.
If the choice is important for reasons unknown to us,
such as the speaking invitation I mentioned earlier or
a choice between two cans of vegetables when one
contains a hidden poison, the Lord will intervene and
give us guidance. Where a choice will make a real
difference in our lives—obvious or not—and where
we are living in tune with the Spirit and seeking its
guidance, we can be sure that we will receive the
guidance we need to attain our goal. The Lord will not
leave us unassisted when a choice is important to our
eternal welfare.